Great-grandfather of Wenda Fore

Private     Co. H     22nd and 29th MI Infantry

Dates of Service:  18 Mar 1865 - 06 Sep 1865

Horace B. Rockwell was born in Fairfield County, Ridgefield, Connecticut on June 10, 1840 to Charles G. Sr. and Sarah (Sally Brotherton) Rockwell. He moved with his family in 1847 to Oakland County, Pontiac, Michigan where his father was a farmer. His father died on June 9, 1851 and was buried in Oak Hill Cemetery in Pontiac, Michigan.

In the 1860 Federal Census he was listed as living with his widowed mother and siblings in Pontiac, Michigan.

Horace Rockwell enlisted in the Civil War at Pontiac, Michigan, on March 18, 1865 as a Private in Co. H, 22nd Michigan Infantry and was later transferred to Co. H. 29th Regiment Michigan Infantry.  They were assigned to guarding the Nashville and Chattanooga rail line until July of 1865, then moved to Murfreesboro until September 6, when they were mustered out of the service, returning to Michigan, arriving in Detroit on the 8th, where they were paid off and disbanded on the 12th. He returned to Pontiac, Michigan.

On August 22, 1866, Horace B. Rockwell who was a farmer in the Pontiac area, married Elizabeth Jane Mumby in Macomb County, Ray Center, Michigan. She was born in Lincolnshire, England on February 14, 1845 to Nightscale and Eliza Jane Mumby. Three children were born to them while they lived in Pontiac. Cora was born in 1867, Frank Mumby was born in 1869, and my grandfather, William Henry Rockwell was born on February 28, 1871.  

The family moved to Kent County, Grand Rapids, Michigan on August 28, 1871 where Horace started a carpenter business. A son, Harry, died at birth in 1873. Mary Ann was born in 1875 and Ralph Conrad in 1877. Little Cora died in 1878 at age 11 of rheumatic heart. Walter was born in 1879, and Harry Ewered was born in 1887. Walter died in 1889 at age 10 of diphtheria. Cora, Harry, and Walter are buried at the foot of their parent’s grave in Oakhill Cemetery in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Horace became a member of A. B. Watson GAR Post 395 where he was a member for many years. His wife Elizabeth Mumby Rockwell was one of the organizers of the Watson Relief Corps.

Horace applied for a Civil War pension for years to no avail. In a letter to the Commissioner of Pensions dated November 17, 1902, he makes this appeal:

“Dear Sir,

Having a claime before the pension department and not hearing from it for a long time, I take the privilage writing direct to you to know why it is kep back so long for I have waited ten years since filling claim ------------. Is it because I am not worthy or is the government is to poor to pension an old solder man most sixty three years old…….”

His applications and required paper work finally accepted, his payments began at $21 per month on August 1, 1907.

Horace's wife Elizabeth died at age 70 of acute indigestion and cardiac insufficiency on September 26, 1915 at the home of her niece Mrs. John Pedden. Her obituary heading read: "Pioneer is Dead; ill for two years. Mrs. Elizabeth Rockwell Expires Sunday - Organizer Watson Relief Corps."

Horace continued his work as a carpenter at their home at 72 Stafford St. SW. My mother, LaVerna Rockwell Leys told me that her grandfather Horace Rockwell made a beautiful sideboard for their home next door to where Horace and Elizabeth lived. I wish that I could have seen a picture of it, but I believe it was lost in a fire which destroyed their home. My great-grandfather Horace Rockwell died on December 1, 1920 at the age of 80 - on the same day he was to receive an increase in his Civil War pension.

Horace and Elizabeth are buried in South Oakhill (formerly Valley City Cemetery) Cemetery with a double headstone. I placed a GAR flag holder at his grave and now he receives a flag placed near Memorial Day each year.

Compiled from Federal Census records, Family History, Civil War Pension Records.

GRAVESITE: Oakhill Cemetery, Grand Rapids, Kent County, MI

Written by Wenda Fore, June 2004

Updated February 2020

                 CIVIL WAR BROTHERS

Charles G. II (left) and Horace B. Rockwell, ca. 1910